Planters Cole Planter help

[Boomer843]

I recently picked these two planters up for $100. They both turn freely and seem to work. I am in the process of stripping them down and refurbishing them. Can anyone give me some info on them? What model are they? Age? Anyone have a lead on some parts if needed? They currently have cotton plates in them. I found some 4 cell corn plates. I would like to find some sunflower plates or possibly make some. I am going to put them both on a tool bar to make a two row. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[sixdogs]

Those are very desirable planters that are mostly used for sweet corn these days. Almost all of these are exactly the same. The press pad in front gives a smooth seed bed and the machine is a reliable planter. Cole is now owned by Covington planter in Ohio and the the Cole 12MX that yours are are now made in, where else, China. Oil them up, make sure you have the gears to change seeding intervals and pick up some used seed plates.

 

[Boomer843]

Well I finished one planter this afternoon and got the second one tore down. Once the second one is finished, I’ll debate how I wanna mount them to a tool bar. Here are a few pics.

 

[sixdogs]

Excellent job getting planter cleaned up, detailed and back together in short order. Nothing better that restoring older equipment back to useful condition. Any pics of the seed plates?

 

[kthompson]

I did not have those Cole Planters, they may be newer than mine were. But you may have real problem finding parts for them. I would get busy on ebay looking for parts. Check with old tractor dealers who may have what they call new old stock or NOS. You need a good selection of plates and the gears. They change the spacing of the seed using plates with different spacing and difference size gears to change the rotation speed of the plates. Get a small bottle of graphite from tractor dealer for planters. Sprinkle it over the seed to keep the plates lubricate and will not harm the seed. If you have never handled ground graphite a little goes a long ways and goes and goes.
You can plant about anything with those planters with the right plates. Both plates do not have to be the same, using different gears you can still get the seed spacing to match near enough.

 

[Boomer843]

This is the seed plate and cover. I’ve got some corn plates on the way. Once I get them in, I’ll check and see what my seed spacing is. I will probably only plate corn and sunflowers with these if I decide to keep them.